Utility-box.



D. S. AMSTUTZ.v

UTILITY Box.

rAPPLICTION FILED IAN- 22. 1915-. 11,217,384. Patented Feb.27,1917.

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DANIEL s. Aivrsru'rz, 'or 01m-VILLE, 01110.

UTILITY-Box.

Specication of Letters Patent.

:Patented neb.- 27, 1917.

Application led January 22, 1915. Serial N o. 3,815.

To all 'whom z'tmayconce'm;

Be it known that I, DA'NmL S. AMsTUTz, a citizen of the United States, residincrat Orrville, in the county of Wayne and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in` Utility-Boxes, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in utility boxes and it appertains more especially' to the features pointed out in the annexed claims. v

The object of my invention is to provide a box for use in connectionwith school desks or other purposes that will combine a place for pens, pencils, etc., ink well, pencil Sharpener, shavings receptacle, and ruler compartment; that will avoid floors being littered with pencil shavings; that will economize labor in the care of school rooms; that provides a removable pencil sharpener; that provides ample storage spacev for shavings so that they need not be emptied exceptl at intervals of several days; that provides a removable tray above the shavings space; that has a finger hold underneath the box; that has a silencing bottom to the tray; that' has a cushion limit stop to prevent moving'` the box in too far beyond the ink well opening of the desk; that provides a safe guard against the accidental extreme withdrawal of the box; that has a pen wiper to remove a surplus of ink; that is supported from a one-piece frame which is secured to the under side of the desk top avoiding the effect of warping, etc of wooden desk tops; that if made of cast materials maybe manufactured without expensive coring, etc., and that may be economically made of any suitable material and that is easily and quickly installed.

With these and other ends in view I illustrate in the accompanying drawing such instances of adaptation asv will disclose the broad features'without limiting myselfto the specific details shown.

Figure l-instan'ces a sectional sidev ele! vation of a box in its assembled relation.

Fig. .Z--is a transverse section of a box with the partition in front of the ink well removed.

Fig. S-is a transverse section through the tray and shavings and ruler compartments.

Fig. `l-is a side elevation of the rear portion of a box showing the automatic catch.

plan of a*l main supporting edge of a ysliding' frame.

Fig. S-is a front elevation of a box showing the sliding frame and pencil sharpener attached.

Fig 9-is a top plan View of the right hand end of a box having the sliding frame removed.

A utility box conforming to the features of my invention may be made of any desired material, such as cast iron, wood, aluminum, etc., or stamped sheet metal. A

box 1 of rectangular or other shape may fhave a front end 2, an ink well partition 3 and a rear end 4 all joined to a suitable bottom. ATray ledges 5 are formed on each side. These when the box is to be cast may be formed by recessing each side suiliciently to avoid placing a core in the inside. Should the box be made of stamped sheet metal an inwardly projecting bead may be pressed into each side to form these ledges or they may be made in any other way' found economical and serviceable. Stops 6 placed at the front end of ledges 5 serve to hold a pencil, eraser and pen holding tray 2l from endwise ldisplacement'. The open space between the tray and front of box is ample to permit of the easy removal of the tray. Within the tray a silencing lining 22 may be placed so as to minimize 'the noise in school rooms as much as possible. Y

As boxes of this class are very freely use it v is found desirable to make provision against their being Aunnecessarily lifted while being moved in or out. This may be accomplished by thev flange 7 on the left hand side and the outer wallv 8 of the ruler compartment engaging the under side of the depending tracks 35 of afmain supporting frame 25 as instanced in Fig. 2. Ledges 9 o n each side raise the thickness of flange 7 and side 10 to form a seat for the sliding Y frame 23 which is fastened by screws in any suitable manner. Between this plate and parts 7 and 8 a runway is formed on each side of the box into which the tracks 35 project.

Pencil shavings are the principal source of untidiness found in school rooms. By

, frame 23.

using a pencil sharpener 28 securedto the front of the box all the shavings accumulate in the open space beneath tray 21 which may be emptied once a week or oftener if found necessary. When this is required the box is entirely withdrawn, tray 21 lifted out and the thumb placed over opening 18 of rubber pen wiper 16 so as to effectually close the mouth of ink bottle 15 preventing a fiow of ink while the shavings are being removed from the box by tilting it on end.

In order that the ink well may be protected against freezing I may place felt or other insulating materialV fl() around and beneath it and also cork the opening 24 formed in the rear end of frame 23 above the rubber sheet 16. If needed a short neck may surround this opening so as to provide a longer seat for the cork. TWith the air excluded from within the bottle and packing all around it will withstand considerable cold without freezing. If desired the `usual covered desk opening 33 having a hinged-lid may be substituted by a cork in cold weather. A flange 17 projects rea'r ward from the box serving as a support for Of course it is understood that I may make the ink well compartment in any desired manner, substitute the felt 40 or supplement it by a vacuum space to make the whole nearer frost proof.

Rubber sheet 16 is held in any desired way, as instanced, it rests along its two edges in recesses 26 above shallow grooves 19. Directly above these grooves the frame 23 may have companion ridges formed so as to press the rubber sheet into the grooves and securely hold the same against accidental dis placement. vThe sheet 16, in practice, would be thinner than the exaggerated thickness shows and if found desirable may have slits radiating a short distance from hole 18. The purpose of this sheet is to simply remove any surplus ink from the pens so as 45-1to avoid unsightly blots and also save ink.

If desired the rear portion of frame 23 may be made in a separate piece so as to facilitate the removal of the ink well when required for cleaning, etc., or the frame may have a hinged cover over the ink well space so arranged that a single screw will hold it seated.

In utilizing a pencil Sharpener it is necessary to have it easily removable so as to be replaced when the blade becomes dulled, etc. This may be accomplished by clamping it between the box 1 and frame 23 or the essential features of a pencil guide may Y be formed as a part of the box and the blade itself made removable for resharpening, etc. In the instance shown a 4half-round recess 12 is formed in the box and a companion recess in a projection 29 of frame 23. This projection abuts side walls 11 thus preserving the alinement of all the parts. Suitable screws on each side of these walls passing from frame 23 into the box 1 securely clamp the Sharpener.

A ruler is an essential tool in schoolroom use but ordinarily becomes a nuisance. I am able to entirely eliminate this by forming a channel 13 along` side of box 1. This channel is left open at its rear end and top. The rear opening permits of the insertion of a push-out should anything become stuck in the channel, besides, if the box is cast the channel is easily cast in. Rib 39 forms a rearward limit stop to the channel.

In order that the box may be easily withdrawn a finger recess 20 is formed on the underside adjacent front end 2. One of the most vexing things that can happen in using a pull-out box is to have it accidentally leave the tracks and fall to the floor. This is automatically avoided by causing a safety catch to engage limit stop 141 projecting from the side of the box at its rear end. The catch is pivoted at 33 to frame 25. Its forwardly projecting end 30 has beveled catch 31 and a finger end 32 by which it can be disengaged from the limit stop 14 whenever it is necessary to entirely remove the box from frame 25. As the box is slid in its whole length catch 31 automatically snubs over 14E thus eectually locking the box against accidents. rIhe catch 31 may be actuated by suitable spring or by gravity as instanced in Fig. L1. To hold the catch 31 from dropping too far at its forward end a projection 34 may be made rearward of pivot 33 so as to strike the under side of frame 25.

As quietness is essential in all school work I provide against its disturbance by placing a suitable cushion 36 between frame 23 and flange 7 as instanced in Fig. 6. This engages the front end of the left hand track 35 and not alone silences the closure of the box but also forms a limit stop to prevent the box being pushed in too far, thus insuring the registration of opening 38 with openings 18 and 24E. Tracks 35 are cut away at both ends at 27 so as to facilitate casting the same. Frame 25 is secured directly beneath the desk top 37 by screws or otherwise.

It will now be seen how compact, simple and efficient the box is in serving numerous related purposes. While I have shown a slidingbox a swing box comprising my distinctive features would obviously be an equivalent device.

1. In combination with a desk top having an opening therein, a suitable box provided with lateral flanges, a track frame having flanges formed thereon fastened to the box so as to form channels between the flanges, an independent frame attached to the desk top and having lateral flanges projectiiig into the channels, a partition in the box dening an ink Well space, and means for fixing the registering position of the ink Well and the opening as the box is moved on the supporting flanges of the seat frame.

2. In combination with a desk top having an opening therein, a box slidable thereunder, and stops limiting the extent of movement of the box in either direction said box comprising an ink Well compartment, a shavings compartment, a removable tray, and means for removably holding a pencil sharpener so that it projects into the shavings compartment, one of the stops, the desk top opening and ink Well space being cordinated to define the position When the ink Well and the opening are in register and the other stop preventing the accidental removal of the box.

3. A suitable supporting main frame having lateral flanges beneath the same, a suitable box hav-ing companion flanges beneath those of the supporting frame, an independent frame attached thereto to form a box unit, extensions therefrom extending above the supporting frame Hanges forming a channel into Which the main frame anges project, and suitable automatic means adapted to prevent the extreme accidental removal of the box unit from the supporting frame.

4. In combination With a desk top having an opening therein, a lineally extending guide thereunder adjacent the opening, a box slidably mounted on the guide, said box Comprising an ink Well compartment provided With an ink Well, and means for limiting the movement of the box on the guide so as to bring the ink Well and the desk top opening in register With each other.

5. A utility box comprising in combination a drawer, means for removably` holding a pencil Sharpener thereon, a shavings compartment into which the pencil Sharpener projects, and a tray above the said compartment adapted to conne the shavings to their compartment and also provide a receptacle for pens, pencils, etc.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

DANIEL S. AMSTUTZ.

Witnesses:

T. N. YoUNGBLooD, H. P. SHANTZ.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of IPs/cents, Washington, D. C. 

